狗年快乐 Gǒunián Kuàilè
Happy Year of the Dog! (2006)
Go, Dog. Gǒu!!
January 29, 2006 begins 狗年 gǒunián, year of the dog. (The previous year was chicken.)
January 29, 2006 begins 狗年 gǒunián, year of the dog. (The previous year was chicken.)
The origin and evolution of the Pekingese type are somewhat obscure. "Short dogs" are mentioned in the official record of the Chou Dynasty (about 1000 B.C.) as part of the annual tribute sent from the States now known as the province of Shansi... In the seventh century A.D. the "Emperor of the Turkoman country" presented the Emperor of China with a male and a female dog, which are described as twelve inches long and seven inches high. They were little trick dogs of remarkable intelligence; they could lead horses by the reins and hold torches in their mouths to light the way for their imperial master when he came home from a party enlivened by the fraternal cups of wine of which Li Po sings so happily in many of his odes. The dogs came from Fu Lin, as Constantinople was called. ---C.A.S. Williams, Outlines of Chinese Symbolism and Art Motives, Dover 1976)
Here is the whole 12-year cycle (鼠牛虎兔龙蛇马羊猴鸡狗猪):
2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, 1912, 1900
2021, 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925, 1913, 1901
2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914, 1902
2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915, 1903
2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916, 1904
2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917, 1905
2026, 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, 1918, 1906
2027, 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, 1907
2028, 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920, 1908
2029, 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921, 1909
2030, 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922, 1910
2031, 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911
